My first 2ft Planted tank

**luncheonMeat** · 15th Sep 2008, 23:39

Hi all,

Just finished setting up my 1st 2ft planted tank. I probably do the tank specs later as im dead tired from the planting. Tried to do some scaping but i think the scaping is rather lousy. Hope some of you can advice me on what other plants to add and how i can imporve my scape. Also, what should i do next to avoid too much Algae problems? Please advice. Thanks.

I have attached my tank pic (day 1).

Feel free to comment.

**Jervis** · 16th Sep 2008, 00:29

Emm a bit cloudy... can't see much

What lighting are you using?

**luncheonMeat** · 16th Sep 2008, 00:58

I have 4 tubes of T5 24w. i think i only turned on 2 tubes when i took the pic and moreover, its taken only2 hours after i started pumping the filter. Thats probably the reason why its cloudy.

**html1820** · 16th Sep 2008, 11:34

Hi Bro, to avoid algae don,t on the light more than 8 hrs a day

**Shadow** · 16th Sep 2008, 12:48

are you using ADA soils? If so, normal to be cloudy for couple of days. Interestingly your drop checker color is orange, would it even be possible? or I see wrongly

**luncheonMeat** · 16th Sep 2008, 12:56

Currently lights on for 6 hours only. so hopefully no problem with algaes.

Hi Shadow, your eye power good! Its orange, i have been wondering if its working myself.

how to check if its working?

**Shadow** · 16th Sep 2008, 12:58

take it out from the tank it should turn to blue

**leechaorui** · 16th Sep 2008, 17:31

Add some shrimps, they will help you to eat up some algae.

**luncheonMeat** · 16th Sep 2008, 17:58

Originally Posted by leechaorui

Add some shrimps, they will help you to eat up some algae.

The tank is only day 2 now... will the shrimps survive in the water?

**luncheonMeat** · 16th Sep 2008, 18:00

Also bought some ferts online, should arrive tomorrow. any recommended dosing regime and should i start dosing now as soon or wait for a week or 2?
Please advise.

**Shadow** · 16th Sep 2008, 18:04

Shrimps probably won't survive in 2 days old tank, exspecialy if you are using ADA soils

what fert did you bought? different fert have different dossing. The best dossing method is to follow EI (Estimate Index)

**luncheonMeat** · 18th Sep 2008, 03:20

Hi all, did a rescape of my tank today after Bro Ben delivered my plants. However, the tank is still cloudy when i took the picture.

Please give comment and let me know how i can improve my scape.

Also spotted hair algae on my HG and E tenellus. Is too early to introduce shrimpes or SAEs to clear algae?

**leechaorui** · 18th Sep 2008, 08:41

My leaves of my plants also suffer from growth of hair algae. I tried to scrub them off but only partially successful.

**Shadow** · 18th Sep 2008, 09:15

too early for shrimps, but maybe SAE can, not sure don't guote me

. I was thingking SAE hardier than shrimp. You can manualy remove it using tooth brush, but be carefull because your plant have not rooted yet.

Photo is too small can really see clearly, but I thing shifting the driftwood slightly to center would be better. Right now I feel like exactly half of the tank empty, but ofcourse once the plant mature, it may look different.

**khtee** · 18th Sep 2008, 10:21

Originally Posted by luncheonMeat

The tank is only day 2 now... will the shrimps survive in the water?

I added yamato to my new tank on the 8th day. Still surviving well. 4 SAE on the 10th day but left 3 now.

**argonmt** · 25th Sep 2008, 23:29

crank up your CO2 if possible.. try to keep it close to 30 ppm mark. IMHO Yamato is quite hardy.

If possible .. try to dose the fertilizer close to the EI dosage.. so that your plants can grow fast enough to outrun the algae. Also try to on the light equal or less than 8 hrs..

If everything is alright you will see your plants flourish in week,,, cheers

BTW i love your setup.

**blue33** · 25th Sep 2008, 23:31

I think too your drop checker is not working correctly. If you use the tank water then it wont be accurate. You need KH4 solution mix with Dymax solution..

**luncheonMeat** · 26th Sep 2008, 04:10

Originally Posted by Shadow

too early for shrimps, but maybe SAE can, not sure don't guote me

. I was thingking SAE hardier than shrimp. You can manualy remove it using tooth brush, but be carefull because your plant have not rooted yet.

Photo is too small can really see clearly, but I thing shifting the driftwood slightly to center would be better. Right now I feel like exactly half of the tank empty, but ofcourse once the plant mature, it may look different.

Cant shift the pieces of wood due to the branches that sticks out and the rockscape that is blocking. However, im pretty happy with the setting now, just that the left side that was meant for the carpet glosso not working out too well. The tank looks quite different now as i have added some new plants.

Originally Posted by argonmt

crank up your CO2 if possible.. try to keep it close to 30 ppm mark. IMHO Yamato is quite hardy.

If possible .. try to dose the fertilizer close to the EI dosage.. so that your plants can grow fast enough to outrun the algae. Also try to on the light equal or less than 8 hrs..

If everything is alright you will see your plants flourish in week,,, cheers

BTW i love your setup.

Thks Bro! After dosing some of the Wonder-Gro bought from Mizuworld, some of the plants are flourishing. Including the Glossos that are growing upwards.

Originally Posted by blue33

I think too your drop checker is not working correctly. If you use the tank water then it wont be accurate. You need KH4 solution mix with Dymax solution..

Bro Blue33 is very observant! i was thinking my drop checker not working well. Didnt know what to do so i just left it there and was thinking of posting this question later. Since you spotted it i thought i just ask here.
The dymax solution came with the Drop checker, the KH4 solution just buy any brand? Do you have a recommendation and how to apply them together. Please advice. Thanks.

Will also post a pic of the tank. Below!

**luncheonMeat** · 26th Sep 2008, 04:24

This was the tank on the 1st day i planted it. Cycled the water with the new plants as advised by bros here.

This is the tank on the 3rd day.

This is the tank on the 8th day!

This is the Tank on the 10th day!

Today is the 12th day. i have not taken any pictures but i will do so probably over the next few days. Already added some cherry shrimps and a few more otos. Will update this weekend!

Also, bought a small DW and was thinking of placing it at the left side behind the rocks to grow some moss if im going to give up on my glossos. What do you guys think?
Or should i be paitient with the glossos?

Hope you guys can give some ideas cause the left side looks a little empty.

Thanks!